College to offer new minor in evolutionary studies

NEW PALTZ — The State University of New York at New Paltz is pleased to announce the approval of an 18-credit interdisciplinary evolutionary studies minor.

According to Glenn Geher, chair of the Evolutionary Studies Program Development Committee, the new program includes classes from many departments and will provide students with an education regarding evolution that is both deep and broad in scope.

"In addition to requiring multiple courses that focus on the essentials of evolutionary theory,” said Geher, “the curriculum includes courses that apply evolutionary principles in varied areas – such as anthropology, literature, and psychology – as well as courses that address gross misapplications of mischaracterized evolutionary ideas, including a course from the history department, titled ‘Crime and Punishment in American History’."

In addition, the program offers a course, "Evolutionary Studies Seminar," that will feature expert speakers on varied topics tied to evolutionary principles and applications. The lectures included as part of this course will be free and open to the public.

“Ours is the second such program in the nation,” said Geher. “We hope that this program will help students across varied majors to learn about what evolution really is – and what it really implies about being human.”

For more information about the evolutionary studies minor, which begins this fall, call Geher at (845) 257-3091.